Christopher L. Busby Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Deadly Assault Case
In a significant development ahead of a scheduled jury trial, Christopher L. Busby, 40, has pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree for his role in a fatal assault that occurred on December 17, 2022. Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced the plea, which took place before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek.
The incident involved Busby and two co-defendants, Lewis Keys and Daiquan Busby, assaulting 25-year-old Mikhail C. Scott inside an apartment building on Rodney Street in Buffalo. The victim was brutally beaten, dragged down the stairs, and left on the sidewalk. He succumbed to his injuries, with the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office ruling the death a homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head.
Christopher Busby now faces up to 25 years in prison, with sentencing set for August 19, 2024. Despite prosecutors’ request for remand, Busby remains out on $300,000 bail. His son, Daiquan A. Busby, 21, and co-defendant Lewis A. Keys, 24, have also pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Daiquan, facing a similar sentence, is also out on bail, while Keys is currently serving an 8-year sentence with 5 years of post-release supervision.
Acting DA Keane praised the Buffalo Police Department for their investigative efforts. The prosecution team included Assistant District Attorney Ryan M. Flaherty, Chief Cathleen M. Roemer, and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel.
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